MT. AUBURN:  Waldo J. Rippel, 81, died Saturday, January 9, 2010 at home following a sudden illness. 

     A Prayer Service will be held at 12:00 PM, Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, 212 E 6th St. in Vinton with Rev. David Gates officiating.  A private Committal Service will be held at the Mt. Auburn Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 10:00 AM until service time on Wednesday.   A Memorial Fund has been established.

     Waldo was born September 28, 1928 in Mt. Auburn to August and Bena (Goettsch) Rippel.  On June 26, 1954 he was united in marriage to Regina Hanneman at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vinton. 

     Waldo farmed in the Mt. Auburn area his entire life.  He had a passion for raising Angus Cattle and in 1962 his load of cattle topped the market at the Chicago Cattle Exchange.  Waldo found great joy in spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

     He is survived by his wife, Regina of Mt. Auburn; his sons, Alan (Alice) of Ames, Steve (Lois) of Mt. Auburn, and Douglas of Naperville, IL; his daughter, Cynthia (Steve) Hilkert of Mooresville, NC; five grandchildren, Stephanie Hilkert, Madison and Mathew Rippel, and Bill and Sam McDuffee;  two great-grandchildren, Cora and Sophia McDuffee; and two brothers, Roy (Florence) Rippel of Vinton and Donald (Geri) Rippel of LaPorte City.

     In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his sisters, Flossie Selk, Vera Selk, Lois Polege, Pearl Dufresne and Fern Kaiser; and brothers, Karl Rippel and Ross Rippel.